Really Great Movie

Okay, now I'm not usually one to praise a Leonardo DiCaprio film or jump on the Hollywood Cause bandwagon, but I honestly thought Blood Diamond was an amazing film. His Rhodesian (okay, Zimbabwean) accent was actually very good. And for once, a good movie was made about a serious subject. Granted, I do think they spent way too much money making the film (money that could have gone elsewhere), but perhaps it will open some people's eyes to the world of conflict diamonds, child soldiers, how rebels are indirectly funded through the actions of people here in the good ol' USofA, etc. And even though the Kimberley Process has dramatically reduced conflict diamonds from entering the global market, it still exists to some extent. Make sure your precious diamond is not only conflict free but child labour free and from an ethical distributor.

Merry Christmas

So Funny

Okay, I know this video has been shared millions of times, but it is honestly so funny. I just figured I would post it for a laugh. My favorite part= 4min 56sec.

One Liner of the Day

I saw a fat woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it.
I said, ‘Thyroid problem?'

Life Poll

When you realize that life is short and is what you make it, you start to create all these fun ideas of just what exactly you want to do. Here are some of my crazy brainstorms (none of them actually being practical in nature). Which way should I go?

1. Find some white sand beach somewhere in the world and open the most eclectic, fun bar ever with Sarah. Pirate ship, 80's rock, Jimmy Buffett, Skeletons, Vegetarian food. No organized tours please.

2. Find a couple acres of land somewhere and build a completely self-sustaining strawbale home. Run a summer environmental camp for kids.

3. Go back to Africa and work in wildlife conservation. Focus efforts on species conservation through community outreach and community-conservation cooperation.

4. Win the lottery and buy the Caribbean Island next to Johnny Depp's with Sarah and Maresa. Days would consist of rum drinking, dancing around the beach bonfire, snorkeling, and sailing our pirate ship.

5. Never settle anywhere. Work a couple years here, a couple years there. Avoid cold places. Warm only.

Nightmare Before Christmas Party

As Borat would say, Sarah's Nightmare Before Christmas Party was a "Great Success." An authentic dead Christmas tree (actually saved from last year), vegetarian food shaped like skeleton heads and snakes, goth wear and leisure suits, and oh yeah, massive amounts of alcohol. Here are some pics: Sarah's bamboo windchime fell victim to the night. Then Kyle decided to smoke it.
Drunken gift exchange. I received a porcelain fish.
After what we'll just call "the chair incident."
You know you're getting old when....your hangover lasts for TWO days! You actually spend all day at work still feeling bad from your Saturday night drunken antics.

Happy Tofurkey Day !!!

Sweet Emotion

Some pics from the Aerosmith/Motley Crue concert Monday night:
Original fan:

Colombia Pics

Create Your Own!

Halloween 2006

Can you guess who we are? I'll give you a hint- 4 hot chicks in an 80's hair band. Yup, that's right...Poison.

A Giant Weiner!

So look what stopped by my work the other day- a giant weiner! The Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile came pulling into my work randomly on Friday. They didn't leave us empty handed- weiner whistles for all!

Back Home..Safe and Sound

Hello all- Sarah and I are back safe and sound from Colombia. All I have to say is Colombia is a fabulous country!!! I loved being there, loved the people, loved the weather, didn't love the Giant South American Centipede on me in my bed, loved the music, loved the food, loved seeing Kathy, loved the beer, loved the beach, really loved Tayrona and Cartagena. We felt so safe and welcomed. I'm going to post a couple pics, but I need to get most of them from Sarah. By the way (for those of you who know Kathy)- she is doing great and looking gorgeous!

Me and Kath overlooking Cartagena from the monastery:

Sarah on the beach in Tayrona:
View of the cabanas from the beach (ps- you can't see our cabana in this pic. It was cabana 11, the one highest up in the forest- 200 steps up from the beach to be exact!)
The view from our cabana (ecohab):
View from Kathy's house in Pereira:

Google

Okay, so I know we all google ourselves. But if you have a common last name like "Brown," you have hundreds of results if you google image yourself. So I think I'll periodically pick some random Lori Brown google images out there as a way of paying tribute to my name sisters out there.
Here is "New College Student Lori Brown:"

Dear Alcohol,
First & foremost, let me tell you that I'm a huge fan of yours. As my friend, you always seem to be there when needed. The perfect post-work cocktail, a beer at the game, and you're even around at the holidays, hidden inside chocolates, as you warm us when we're stuck in the midst of endless family gatherings. However, lately I've been wondering about your intentions. While I want to believe that you have my best interests at heart, I feel that your influence has led to some unwise consequences: 1. Phone calls: While I agree with you that communication is important, I question the suggestion that any conversation of substance or necessity takes place after 2 a.m. Why would you make me call those ex-boyfriends/girlfriends when I know for a fact they do not want to hear from me during the day, let alone all hours of the night? 2. Eating: Now, you know I love a good meal, but why do you suggest that I eat a taco with chili sauce, along with a big Italian meatball and somestale chips (washed down with WINE & topped off with a Kit Kat after a few cheese curls & chili cheese fries)? I'm an eclectic eater, but I think you went too far this time. 3. Clumsiness: Unless you're subtly trying to tell me that I need to do more yoga to improve my balance, I see NO need to hammer the issue home by causing me to fall down. It's completely unnecessary, and the black & blue marks that appear on my body mysteriously the next day are beyond me. Similarly, it should never take me more than 45 seconds to get the front door key into the lock. 4. Furthermore: The hangovers have GOT to stop. This is getting ridiculous. I know a little penance for our previous evening's debauchery may be in order, but the 3pm hangover immobility is completely unacceptable. My entire day is shot. I ask that, if the proper precautions are taken (water, vitamin B, bread products, aspirin) prior to going to sleep/passing out face down on the kitchen floor with a bag of popcorn, the hangover should be minimal & in no way interfere with my daily activities. Alcohol, I have enjoyed our friendship for some years now & would like to ensure that we remain on good terms. You've been the invoker of great stories, the provocation for much laughter, and the needed companion when Ijust don't know what to do with the extra money in my pockets. In order to continue this friendship, I ask that you carefully review my grievances above & address them immediately. I will look for an answer no later than Thursday 3pm (pre-happy hour) on your possible solutions & hopefully we can continue this fruitful partnership. Thank you,Your biggest fan

I'm furious!

Protested drug firm finds new site
Edythe Jensen
The Arizona Republic
Covance Inc., a global drug development company reviled by animal rights groups, is coming to Chandler. The company has moved its planned medical research facility to a new site that doesn't need a zoning change or public vote.The company announced Tuesday it is moving its site from the Price Corridor to a new location in the Chandler Airpark, a move that also could speed up development around the city's airport.The new site, near Gilbert and Ryan roads, is already approved for an industrial facility, and Covance will be allowed to build without City Council vote or threat of referendum, Mayor Boyd Dunn said. That clears the way for construction.
In a high-security press conference at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, Dunn, four City Council members, several state lawmakers and a room full of community and business leaders, said they support the plan and welcome the biotech giant to the city. The change drew outrage from Washington, D.C.-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, an animal rights group that had planned to launch a referendum against Covance had their previous site received zoning approval."We're still going to fight this project and we think this (the move) is a sign that Covance has recognized there is strong public opposition in Chandler," said PCRM spokesman Patrick Sullivan. Today's announcement comes a week after PCRM mailed 23,000 explicit DVDs of undercover footage inside Covance's animal laboratories to Chandler voters. The DVD starts with a plea from Scottsdale surgeon Deborah Wilson, who asks viewers to contact city officials and ask them not to allow Covance to build in the city. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals and the British Union for Abolition of Vivisection gathered the images after members infiltrated laboratories in Virginia and Germany.Covance officials said earlier they were preparing for an unprecedented ideological battle with animal rights activists in seeking zoning approval for their former site at Price and Germann roads. In August, James Lovett, corporate senior vice president and general counsel, said Covance "will do whatever we need to do to get the facts out." Lovett was in the audience at today's conference.

Hasselhoff Falls Asleep on British TV

Former "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff flirted, danced and slept his way through an interview on British TV Sunday morning, and blames his dopey demeanor on sleeping pills. The 54-year-old attempted to charm "GMTV" host Jenni Falconer during a promotional interview for his new single, "Jump in My Car," saying, "You're not engaged. Oh, I have a chance." Hasselhoff later performed a hip-thrusting dance routine to his new song, aimed at Falconer, before falling asleep during a break in the early-morning show.
However, "'GMTV' producers dismiss speculation he was drunk. A spokesperson for the show says, "We do not believe he was drunk. There was no smell of alcohol." Hasselhoff explains, "I was really tired. I've been in Vancouver then Leeds, then Manchester then Croydon."

Rise Against Video

My new favorite video. I wish more bands would make an effort to actually use their music to effect change.

Pereira Boycot

The ‘crossed legs’ strike: Wives of Colombia gang members call sex strike against crime
Reuters: 2:25 a.m. MT Sept 14, 2006
BOGOTA, Colombia - They are calling it the “crossed legs” strike.
Fretting over crime and violence, girlfriends and wives of gang members in the Colombian city of Pereira have called a ban on sex to persuade their menfolk to give up the gun.
After meeting with the mayor’s office to discuss a disarmament program, a group of women decided to deny their partners their conjugal rights and recorded a song for local radio to urge others to follow their example.
“We met with the wives and girlfriends of gang members and they were worried some were not handing over their guns and that is where they came up with the idea of a vigil or a sex strike,” mayor’s office representative Julio Cesar Gomez said.
“The message they are giving them is disarm or if not then they will decide how, when, where and at what time,” he told Reuters by telephone.
Gomez said the city, in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, reported 480 killings last year.
Crime and violence have dropped in Colombia since 2002 when President Alvaro Uribe was first elected promising to crackdown on left-wing rebels fighting a four-decade insurgency and the illegal militia groups who formed to counter them.
But cocaine-trafficking gangs and armed groups still roam parts of Colombia and murder and kidnappings remain a problem despite the fall in crime statistics.

My only question is: Kathy, you live in Pereira. Are you part of this boycott?!!!

One More Month

One month from today is my 27th birthday and I'll be celebrating it in Colombia (pretending I'm turning 25 of course)! Kathy, here we come!
I'm really looking forward to Tayrona, where we stay in these little ecohab huts overlooking the water:

Oh, and Sarah and I are taking salsa lessons so we can try and keep up with Kathy. Watch out Colombia, we've got our uncomfortable latin dancing heels on!

Heaven

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?" "This is Heaven, sir," the man answered. "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. "Of course sir, come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked. "I'm sorry; sir, but we don't accept pets." The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. "Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?" "Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in." "How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog. "There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old- fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too." "Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell." "Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?" "No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind." You are all welcome @ my water bowl anytime

5 Years Later

I just wanted to pay tribute to all who lost their lives on 9/11. I don't think any of us will ever forget where we were on that day. It will stay with us forever.

Bringing Sexy Back

It seems as if JT has caused a craze...people are trying to bring sexy back all over the place. It's getting pretty ridiculous!
This guy gave it a try. Valiant effort.

Labor Day Guide

A guide to enjoying your three day Labor Day weekend:
1. Throw a party Saturday night in honor of your ex-boyfriend's wedding the same day. Title party: "I'm Not Getting Married/I'm Not Having a Baby."
2. Register.
3. Invite close friends only.
4. Drink cosmopolitans and margheritas until 4:30 am (7am if you are Sarah).
5. Make champagne toasts such as: "To not having to pay a dollar to dance with me," "To bringing sexy back," or "Cheers to being single and fabulous."
6. Sleep from 4:30am-7am. Lie in bed with friends, giggling about the night before until 9am.
7. Head out for some bloody marys and food.
8. Pick up a case of Corona and Coors Light (for the boys) on the way home and start all over again at 11am.
9. Cure hangover by becoming drunk all over again. Repeat.

Celebration

In honor of my ex getting married tomorrow, I've decided to throw an "I'm Not Getting Married/I'm Not Having a Baby" party! Anyone see that Sex and the City episode: "the baby shower?" Kinda like that. The friends and I plan to toast our singlehood in style- with cosmopolitans, mojitos, margheritas, martinis, and music. Oh, and of course, the champagne toast and some variation of the dollar dance!

Hope

I believe in these difficult and mean-spirited times in which we live, there needs to be a message of hope. Just a single image that speaks to us of love, harmony, peace and joy. An image that suggests the universal brotherhood of man. I have found that image, and I ask that all of you take a moment to be inspired by it. (for those of you who can't see, the store is called "the beer store.")

The West African black rhino appears to have become extinct, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). An intense survey of Northern Cameroon, the rhinos last known existing habitat, found no evidence of the rhino's survival; only evidence of intense poaching. Once numbering 100,000 in 1900, there are now 0 due to human activities. In 1990, a personal guard was to be assigned to each of the 15 remaining rhinos. I guess that didn't work. And the Northern White Rhino was last counted at 4 individuals in Congo and is thought to become the next victim of extinction. Though extinction is a natural occurence in nature, the rate to which humans are causing species to disappear is almost too much to take in.

Web Search for Charity

I'm now using GoodSearch.com to search the Internet. Every time I do, money goes to the Arizona Animal Welfare League (or whichever charity you choose to designate). Just type in "Arizona Animal Welfare League" or your charity under "I'm supporting," then hit verify. Everytime you use goodsearch money will go towards AAWL or any other charity you choose. The site is powered by yahoo, so you'll get the same great search results. The more people who use this site, the more money will go to those in need. So please spread the word to your friends and family.
http://www.goodsearch.com

So There Were Three Mexican Shark Fisherman

No, it's not the start of a joke. It's actually the start of a true story. Check this one out:

Three shark fisherman from San Blas, Mexico set out to fish on October 28, 2005. But mechanical problems drove their ship out to sea, where they ran out of gas. Nine months and nine days later, they were found drifting at sea by an asian tuna boat. They apparently survived by eating raw fish and drinking rain water. They were found 5,500 miles to the west of San Blas, Mexico near the Marshall Islands. My take on the story- they had a nice little nine month vacation on the Marshall Islands, away from their wives (okay, just kidding).

More pics

And...Breathe

I'M DONE! Turned in my thesis on Monday (all 97 pages of it), walked during the commencement, and plan to get some much needed sleep all weekend. So unless my thesis in considered worthy for the dumpster, I think I'm good. YEAH!

Philosophy for the Day

Pastor's Ass. . .
The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won. The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and it won again. The local paper read:
PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.
The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race. The next day, the local paper headline read:
BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.
This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent. The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day:
NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.
The bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10. The next day the paper read:
NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.
This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild. The next day the headlines read:
NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.
The bishop was buried the next day.
The moral of the story is: Being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery and even shorten your life. So be yourself and enjoy life... Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier and live longer!

Please Help

One of the largest animal testing companies is trying to put a facility right here in Chandler- about 3 miles from my house. Please visit www.stopcovance.com to sign the petition. And click on www.protectchandler.org or www.covancecruelty.com to learn more. They have violated the Animal Welfare Act numerous times and are publically criticized for their import of primates from Africa. They also posess a Class B Dealer's license, meaning they can acquire "subjects" for research from newspaper ads, animal shelters, etc. Covance is the single largest importer of primates in the U.S. and the world's largest breeder of "purpose-bred" laboratory dogs.

In Memory

In the summer of 2000, I was fortunate to be awarded an internship at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. Along with founders Carol Buckley and Scott Blais, I worked alongside primary elephant caregiver Joanna Burke. She was an amazing girl and a great person to work with. Joanna died on July 21 after a tragic accident involving Winkie, one of the sanctuary's elephants. She was struck by Winkie and then stepped on, killing her instantly. If you would like to honor Joanna's life, please make a donation in her name to The Elephant Sanctuary. It is what Joanna would have wanted. To read more please visit www.elephants.com or http://www.elephants.com/pr/joanna_burke_7_24_06.htm.

Make Your Pledge...

Make you pledge for animals by sponsoring me in this year's Bowl-A-Rama. The 4th annual Bowl-A-Rama event brings together over 50 animal rescue organizations from the Phoenix area. By pledging your favorite team or bowler, your money goes directly to AAWL animal rescue. If you can make a pledge, please visit aawl.org. Then click "Make your pledge for Bowl-A-Rama 2006" under "Upcoming Events." In the memo line, please put "Bowl-A-Rama: Lori Brown." Thank you.

Vintage Bongo

The 80's Called....

So the 80's called and they want these fine chicks back:
Oh wait, those aren't chicks, that's POISON!!! I would be lying if I said I was not at the Poison/Cinderella concert Sunday night. Sarah, Maresa, KC and I definitely had a "time."

Survival guide to Poison/Cinderella:

1. Jean skirts, blue eye shadow, crimped hair...CHECK
2. Friends who are so ridiculous they cut bangs just so they can have some sweet mall bangs action for the night...CHECK (SARAH!!!)
3. An 18 pack in the parking lot...CHECK
4. Original rockers nicknamed "Pit Bull Dan" who keep repeating "man, they're just as good as they were 20 years ago" during Poison...CHECK
5. Ending up with bruised knees the next morning somehow...that would be KC!!!...CHECK

Hasselhoff Undergoes Surgery

LONDON -- Former "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff had surgery after severing a tendon in his right arm in an accident in a London gym bathroom, his spokeswoman said Friday.
The 53-year-old actor, who played lifeguard Mitch Buchannon on the TV beach drama for 11 years, was shaving at a gym in the Sanderson Hotel on Thursday when he hit his head on a chandelier, showering his arm with broken glass, his publicist, Judy Katz, said.
Doctors operated to repair the injury and Hasselhoff spent one night at St. Thomas' Hospital in central London, Katz said.
"He's fine," Katz said by phone from New York. "He's out of the hospital and will resume filming tomorrow."

Oh Friends

Ok, so can I just say how much I love friends and am lucky to have such great people in my life!

Sarah, fabulous in so many ways, is the only person I know who, not only wants to go to Colombia with me, but also says "hey, let's stop by Cuba on the way home." Oh, and by the way, she will be at the bar at 6am tomorrow morning for the England/Ecuador game.

Then there's Maresa who, when you go to her myspace page and look under "interests," there is only ONE listed: KETEL ONE. Fabulous!